THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 04 - FAMILY

GABRIEL

We walked home and everyone was eating cereal. I looked at dad and he was confused, he walked to mom and hugged her, and kissed her on the forehead.

-What's for dinner?

-Cereal don’t you see?

As my Mom left the kitchen, I was already pouring milk in a bowl.

-You are right Dad it’s a great meal.

Dad sighed and walked away, he was probably following mom. I saw Maria with her head down.

-What happened?

-As you care.

-Maria…

-Sam is in the dungeons.

-Again?

-Yes, Mom caught him running with his bag, again.

-Is this why we are eating cereal?

-Part of it… Uncle Chris called and said he wasn’t coming tomorrow, but until next week, so mom is kind of sad.

-She just wants to have the new babies around.

-Probably…

We didn’t say much after that. As soon as I finished, I went back to my room and started reading the pack records. I tried to do this at least every three days, it’s good for me to keep my knowledge of the pack actualized and with data to support my thoughts. When I didn’t hear noises at the house, I went back into the kitchen trying to make less amount of noise. I started looking for the cookies. I opened every door, but the triple chocolate cookies were nowhere to be seen. Then I heard a noise and saw my mom at the kitchen door. I froze and I stopped breathing.

-They are in the oven, I hide them there.

She then left but she stopped suddenly.

-If you tell Sam I told you the hidden place or if you tell him the hiding place, I will make your phones without signal forever.

-Yes, mom.

-Good night Gabe, don’t stay up too late.

As soon as she left, I walked into the basement. The one in charge let me pass without saying anything, they knew me and they knew why I was there. When I walked near the cell, I saw him leaning against the back wall.

-Are you here to tell me that I was wrong and that the pack is better together and that union is what makes us stronger and a lone wolf is left alone to die?

What he was saying sounds absurd, but he was just saying part of my previous conversations with him here… But they were true, I still didn’t get the point of him trying to leave the pack. Zeus wasn’t talking much, he was still mad at our brother for his words.

-I got something for you.

I extended my arm and passed him the cookies. He took them and sat next to the bars. I sat next to him and he passed me a cookie. I tried it and it was awfully sweet.

-I think I finally did it.

-Did what?

-I made mom disappointed in me. She cried when she found me.

-Where did she find you?

-Near the lake, she was in her full form with Anri.

-Well, Brother, you had bad luck. She goes there when she wants to be alone, and if you happened to go there, she wasn’t looking for you more like you found her.

-Then why was she crying?

-Uncle Chris called.

-Don’t tell me he is postponing his return again?

-Yes, until next week.

-That’s what was bothering mom then… He was supposed to be here like three weeks ago, right?

-Yes.

-You are like our mom in that aspect, you know? She is afraid of losing him, but he still loves mom, and it doesn't matter where he is, he will always be there for mom. They are siblings.

-But he is coming back.

-You can say that Gabe, but for mom it’s hard, he is the only sibling she has… well sort of, but for her, Chris is really important. Just as she goes there, you have your rocks... but I didn't think she could be that sad, and that path is the easiest one to take to leave the pack without the wards noticing... If I had known, I would have taken another one.

I looked at him with disbelief, he was already rethinking his strategy.

- I don’t see why people say you are just like dad, you are more like our mom in many ways.

He was right, my attitude is more like mom’s attitude… Some of my characteristics are also kind of like mom, but I definitely have the sense of responsibility of my dad… My mom has already complained about that.

-Why are you laughing?

Sam was looking at me. I didn’t know I was, but I had never thought about that before, so I think I found that thought funny.

-It’s just that I haven’t thought about that.

-Well I have, and so has Maria, but she is just like Randy. She is determined and stubborn. I think that’s why she doesn't want to find a mate… Because he didn’t find one.

The thought of uncle Randy made my heart shrink a bit… I still didn’t understand why he was the only one that didn’t come back. Mom goes to the packs and visits them. Dad stays here but he isn’t himself when she isn’t around, and I actually tried every time mom was away to ask dad why uncle Randy didn’t come back… But he never said why, just that he had his own reasons… Why would uncle Randy wouldn’t come back to us… Dad said he had his reasons... but do dead people have reasons?

-Well if she wants to be like uncle Randy she is going to be a strong leader and a great addition to the pack… She already is, but I can’t wait to see how strong she will grow.

I said as I looked at Sam he had like four cookies in his mouth and was trying to get the fifth one in.

-Are you really eating them like that?

He tried to speak but crumbles of cookies were thrown through his mouth.

-You also have a lot of potential, but apparently, it has been wasted on the cookie monster I’m seeing.

He gulped and cleaned his mouth with his arm.

-I’m really good at everything that I do, even at eating cookies.

-You call that a really good eater?

-Better than you, you still have more than half a cookie in your hand.

-Better in my hand than all over the place…

-I will agree to disagree.

He said as he picked the crumbles from the floor with his fingers and ate them.

-Here you can have my cookie.

-Thanks!

-I think mom is feeling bad, you saw her in a hard moment and probably redirected her emotions to you, so you will probably be out for breakfast. Just behave, please.

I stood up and Sam looked at me.

-Are you going already?

-Yes, I should go back… but behave and apologize and I will see you in the morning at breakfast.

I left the dungeon and walked into my room. I lay on my bed and closed my eyes. The morning light woke me up, but what really woke me up was my phone vibrating. I took it and answered.

-Hi…

-GABRIEL FINALLY YOU ANSWERED! ARE YOU ALRIGHT? DID SOMETHING HAPPEN? SHOULD I GO THERE WITH THE GUYS?

-I’m okay Lucas, it’s my mom…

That’s when I understood or got it, my phone was working again!

-GABRIEL ARE YOU ALRIGHT? FIRST YOU DON'T ANSWER AND THEN YOU DON’T SPEAK…

-Sorry Lucas, it’s just that my mom I don’t know how she blocked my and my sibling’s phones, so I just realized it’s working now.

-Why would she do that? You need your phone to communicate as the future Alpha!

-I said that, but she said that dad didn’t have a phone and that I would manage without one.

-WHAT? But that was another time. Now you need phones!

-Would you like to call my mom and say that to her?

-No thanks I would rather eat my own hand than say that to the Luna Queen.

-Are you afraid of my mother Lucas?

-No doubt, I have seen how she controls the king so, of course, I have respect for her.

-It’s good to hear from you…

-Why is Sam doing the silent treatment again?

-He is in the dungeons.

-Again? How far has he gone this time?

-He was caught in the pack land so not that far at all.

-Why is he trying to leave so desperately?

-I don’t know I don’t get the point of traveling alone.

-You are like his twin, don’t you have an idea or something?

-I’m not his twin, Maria is more like his twin than me, you just need to look at them.

-And is she also planning to go alone?

-No, she is happy here. She will stay here forever.

-Well that would break the heart of half of the unmated wolves in my pack and in other packs, but I don’t think anyone can tolerate her more than you. I mean, even Sam is running from there.

We laughed… I know he was kind of joking but Maria was indeed a hard person, she was bossy and sometimes self-centered. I knew more than one pack member that saw her as a really hard person to deal with… Lucas is one of them, he prefers to ignore her and act as if he can’t see her, and Maria loves it that way. She kind of hated Lucas since we fought when we were kids, but that fight is the reason that we are now best friends, but she still doesn’t get it. I heard mom screaming and it was my hint that breakfast was ready.

-I need to hang up Lucas, but I will stay in touch.

- Are you going to eat breakfast?

-Yes.

-Did your mom make it?

-Probably.

-I hate you so much!

He hung up the phone and I just laughed. Lucas loves my mom’s cooking and I knew it was what he missed more. Every time the young camp happened he ate as if he hadn’t eaten in the whole year. If they could give him a day of my mom’s food or a week with me, he would choose my mom’s food every time for sure. I went down and saw everyone eating pancakes. “Mom is happy.” Zeus’ voice sounded excited. “She had given all of our phones the signal back so she must be really happy.” I sat and took some pancakes. Mom was singing while making more. All the pack members were happy. When mom was happy, her smiles spread. I ate till my heart's content… I looked around and, apparently, everyone did. I stood and left my chair in for someone else to take my seat. I went to the living room and found Sam lying on the couch with his face full of maple syrup. I sat next to him.

-So how many pancakes did you eat?

-I lost count at the tenth one.

-You know our phones are working again.

-Yes Maria told me, but I’m too full to move now.

I laughed and closed my eyes for a bit. I saw my dad on the couch that was next to Sam also lying with the same look as Sam, so he probably is in a food coma just like Sam, so which means training will not be as early as usual. I turned my head and saw my dad rubbing his belly.

-So when will the training be, Dad?

- It will be at night hopefully.

-And why is mom so happy?

-Chris called me and when I told him the situation, apparently Ivory heard and she decided to be back today, so in the morning when I told her Chris was coming back today she smiled and told me we were going to eat pancakes… And who was I to tell her we had training?

Dad said with a smile.

-You just wanted to eat pancakes, right?

He laughed and looked at me.

-Can you blame me? Look around, all the pack members are happy!

I saw and he was right, everyone was relaxing and smiling. He was right, but I hope this happiness lasts longer than previous ones.

-Please don’t try to escape again Sam, let mom be this happy.

-I can’t promise anything.

I smiled and went back to my room, but first I went back to the kitchen and took a picture of the food and sent it to Lucas.